One of the Things New York City Is Doing for the Homeless Mentally Ill

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February 1, 1989, Page 00024 The New York Times Archives

To the Editor:

''Good Riddance to the Welfare Hotels'' (editorial, Jan. 5) closes with a condemnation of the inaction of New York City officials in providing housing for homeless single adults, including the many who are emotionally ill.

While there is no major comprehensive solution planned that promises major changes in the lives of the city's large homeless population, the city administration has made a start on the problem of the homeless mentally disabled.

One promising program operates at two sites in Manhattan, funded by the city. Over the next few months it will expand to Brooklyn and the Bronx, with our agency operating services for women in the East New York section of Brooklyn. To the city's credit, it moved to acquire Federal funds through the McKinney Homeless Assistance Act to establish the new sites. Additional funds are being provided by the New York State Community Support Services as well as the Homeless Assistance Funds.

This program serves homeless men and women residing in city shelters. Those targeted for referral have a history of major mental illness. Mental health and supportive services are offered to help stabilize shelter residents so that in 6 to 12 months the residents will be able to move to alternative housing accommodations, such as apartments, single-room-occupancy dwellings, proprietary homes or supervised residences.

Our agency's program will serve women in the Brooklyn Women's Shelter in East New York, an area characterized by high rates of crime, addiction, unemployment, family violence and child abuse. We will serve 30 women at one time. After their discharge to appropriate housing, we will follow up to insure that they continue to live independently and that mental health and medical clinics or other facilities are appropriately used.

As the executive of an agency with many programs for the disabled, I believe the homeless mentally ill will need very focused and specialized treatment and stabilization services to prepare them for independent living. Small programs such as those I have described are an important first step in finding permanent, appropriate housing for our city's homeless mentally ill. DONNA A. SANTARSIERO Executive Director, Brooklyn Bureau of Community Service Brooklyn, Jan. 11, 1989

A version of this letter appears in print on February 1, 1989, on Page A00024 of the National edition with the headline: One of the Things New York City Is Doing for the Homeless Mentally Ill. Today's Paper|Subscribe